Anonymous letter threatens to blow up Odisha Assembly, Naveen Nivas

A day before Odisha Assembly is scheduled to meet for the Budget session, the commissionerate police today received an anonymous letter threatening to blow up several vital installations in the state capital, including Naveen Nivas, the Chief Minister’s residence.

The mysterious sender dropped a post card addressed to the Twin City police commissioner in which he threatened to bomb Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s residence, the state Assembly and the state BJP headquarters in the capital with a timer bomb.

Admitting that such a letter had indeed been received by Commissionerate police, DGP Sanjiv Marik said all precautions were being taken to protect the purported targets in the city.

Though it is possible that the letter, written by someone who has not identified himself, could be a hoax, the police establishment is taking no chances. Twin City commissioner of police Dr RP Sharma has directed his personnel to be alert.

Meanwhile, tight security and surveillance arrangements have been put in place around the state Assembly for the Budget session beginning tomorrow. Over 30 CCTV cameras and as many platoons of police force have been deployed at strategic points to keep a watch on the movement of suspicious elements.